Goals

From what I can tell, they look to be creating lots of chances. In time, the goals will come.

 

Few shots = few goals

Lots of nice passing at mid field but little buildup for a shot. We were luck to get the one goal and unlucky on twohit posts. Still can't get TnT in the game.

I think our porblems come from two areas.

1) We're too slow up top. I think either TnT or Noonan have to be replaced by a faster forward. We can't have two average speed guys in at the same time.

2) Midfield - are not ceating chances for TnT or Noonan to score. Our solution seems to be to loft balls into the goal area. Hasn't worked so far.

Interesting that he sat Cancela down. Thought he was having a good game.

 

The injuries and the results of the first two games have forced the team to take a defense-first approach. While that approach has improved the GA number, the offense has suffered.

Twellman is in a slump. He is pressing too hard to get out of it, and the team at times is trying too hard to get him the ball so he can get out of it. For example, there was one play yesterday where Joey had the ball with two Mutts about 5 yards apart who were between him and Twellman. Yet he still tries to pass it between them to Twellman for an easy turnover.

Noonan leads the team with 2 goals, but there were at least two occassions yesterday where he was sent through on a breakaway, only to be caught from behind by a faster defender.

We need someone with speed. Brillant showed some wheels at RM, maybe move Ralston to LM and sit Joey (yeah, like that will ever happen).

 

When asked later coach Nicol said it was because of fatigue.

 

Harkes nailed it on MLS Wrap. The ball isn't getting to the wingers to cross it in to Twellman and Noonan. Twellman isn't the type of forward who can solely create chances and execute, but he is the type that if he breaks free for a split second, and if he gets the ball, he'll put it away 9 out of 10 times. Lately we've been seeing that 1 time he doesn't over and over again. But we haven't seen much play that would benefit Twellman's scoring oppurtunities. The ball has been played up the middle through Cancela and Dempsey and the play has stopped by the time they get to the 18 yard box because they are hit by a wall of defenders. And its not like they can send the ball wide because half the time the wingers are pinching in. PM needs to get his fowards, wingers, and c-mids together and rewrite a game plan that looks awfully familiar to that of 2002 and 2003's seasons, the seasons the Revs lead the league in scoring.

 

I agree, this team plays the ball through the middle way to slow and they need to play the wings more. Cancela dribbles too much and I'm not convinced that he has any vision as a cental midfielder. He's just a skilled player. We need someone to start playing 1 and 2 touch through the midfield and play the wings with PACE. We need to get TnT and Noonan the ball more often where the don't have to turn and take on 3 guys. There great forwards, not miracle workers.

 

A few random comments.

Thought Re TnT: what other forward in the league causes the commentators to keep track of his scoreless minutes? I think that reflects the general appreciation of TnT.

[If they kept track of Earnie Steward scorless minutes, they'd need a computer.]

It seemed to me that Brilliant's speed helped open the game. Noonan is just too slow to create much. He has a good shot, if the ball gets to him in a good position. But he's not creating anything for TnT.

The Dempsey/Joseph pairing is fun to watch. Dempsey has a nice combination of good touch on the ball and physicality.

I thought Avery John did a nice job, without the helter-skelter feeling that Marshall Leonard brings to left back.

 

Leonard has speed that I didn't see in Avery. He also has the ability to run that left side and make great cross overs. He often did this at UVa and the few times I've seen him do this with NE he seems to place it right in front of the forwards. He may be "helter-skelter" as you call it, but he also is effective, which is what we need. He certainly stopped Ruiz.

As for Twellman ... we give him the benefit of the doubt. Yes, he's good, but good and not effective doesn't mean anything. I hate to say it, but last year when he wasn't available others stepped up and did so well.

 

Helloooooooo...........maybe it's time for Twellman and Noonan to play better off the ball. How many crosses has Twellman played this year for a midfielder to run on to? Ditto for Noonan. How often does one or the other make a corner run to draw away central defenders and open space? Standing in front of the net with hands in the air and two stronger defenders watching tends to clog the offense up, even if you are the best finisher in the league. Obviously we want Twellman to end up with the ball in shooting position, but it won't happen enough unless he is more subtle, creative, and patient about it.

 

Is there any reason we couldn't see Marshall and John playing at the same time, freeing up Kamler to play left wing? I think the attack misses the crosses and occasional hard shots from Kamler.

This is a good point. When Twellman was out last year, there was quite a bit of discussion on these boards about the Revs offense being more effective because Twellman wasn't the focus of every attack which then openned up some other options and also forced the offense to be more creative. I think the case could be made that Twellman is trying too hard to score and the team is again making him the focus of the attack in an effort to help break out of his scoring rut.

 

I expect to see Kamler in central d and the 3-5-2 at least until Rusty Pierce comes back healthy.

 

These assets of Leonard's are true, but they are more suited to the classic Nicol 4-4-2 system than the current one.